Brush-adjusting means for generators of automobiles



1,640,917 30 1927 H. ARNEST V BRUSH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR GENERATORS OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 2' 1926 fla rryl. 772

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,917 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L ARNEST, F VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS, VIRGINIA.

BRUSH-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR GENERATORS OF AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed September 27, 1926. Serial No. 138,069.

This invention relates to brush adjusting means for the enerators of automobiles. The primary ob ect of the invention is to provide a mechanism by means of which the third brush of the generator may be adjusted from the dash of the automobile so that the driver of the vehicle may control the output of the generator and, consequently, the rate of charging of the battery in accordance with varying driving COIldltlOIlS.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of the mechanism of an automobile, having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a generator having the invention connected thereto.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the generator with parts of the attachment in place and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of th mechanism of my invention.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

In the drawing, 5 designates the dash of the automobile, 6 the generator, and'7, the intake manifold to the lower end of which thecarburetor is connected. In carrying out the invention, I employ a bracket 8, comprising the horizontal eye 9, and the right angular web 10. The web 10 is engaged with one of the usual bolts 11 by which the carburetor is secured to the intake manifold. The eye 9 constitutes a bearing for one end of a two part rod or shaft 12. This shaft comprises overlapping portions 12 and 12 which are embraced by a clamping sleeve 13. The purpose of this overlapping as to length. so that variations in the distance between the eye 9 and the generator may be readily compensated for. The outer or right hand end of the section 12 is adapted to be journaled in the end of the generator casing 6. One of the important features of this invention is that this improved mechanism is of such a nature that any unskilled person can apply it to the existing parts of the automobile in a very Short time and with the use of only common tools.

Economy in manufacture is also one of the important features of the present invention, but economy in manufacture is of secondary importance in comparison with the production of a device which may be construction is to render the rod adj ustable applied without the services of a skilled mechamc, because the cost of labor on an individual job is out of all proportion to the I of the generator casing. A link 18 is pivoted at 19 to the free end of the crank arm 15 and at 20, to the third brush 21 of the generator. Thus it will be clear that if the rod 12 is turned about its axis, the brush Will be moved to adjust its position about the commutatorpf the generator. To provide means for imparting this turning movement to the approximately horizontal rod 12, I connect the inner end of the rod section 12*, beyond the eye 9, with a two art operating rod 22, through the medium 0? the universal joint 23. The operating rod 22 comprises the overlapping portions 22 and 22', the latter being connected to the universal joint and the former carrying an operating button 24, accessible at the face of the dash. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the button 24 in its adjusted position. The parts may be so arranged that the friction will hold the mechanism in its adjusted'position, or the edge of the button 24.- may be knurled as indicated at 25 and a spring detent finger 26 may be mounted upon the dash to snap over the raised portions of the edge of th button to hold the same in adjusted position in a manner common in the mechanical arts.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the parts employed by me in carrying out the invention are of the utmost simplicity, that they lend themselves to the most economical manufacture and that they copera-te with the existing parts of the automobile in such a way that even the unskilled automobile owner ma appl the attachment without the aid o a me-' chanic.

It is a well known fact that automobile owners are put to a great-expense by having to have the batteries removed from their automobiles for recharging, from time to time. This is largely due to the fact that no readily accessible means are available for adjusting theoutput of the charging generator. If the generator is set to properly charge the battery for long distance driving then its output is insufiicient to properly charge the battery during about town driving where the starter is used very frequently in proportion to the distance run. If upon the other hand the generator is setto properly charge the battery during about town driving, then there is danger to the battery through overcharging on long distance trips. By providing the present attachment the driver is enabled to easily and quickly boost the battery charge during long continued about town driving and to corres on'dingly reduce it on long trips. Thus, the battery may be kept charged to just the right degree, at all times, and with the device of the present invention applied to the automobile there will never be any necessity for removin the battery from the car throughout the 'fe of said battery.

While the device is of articular utility and lends itself to read y mounting, as shown, upon the Ford automobile, it is to be understood that it may be used upon other automobiles. 1 7

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the recise construction set forth but that it includes within its urview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of theappended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A device for use upon an automobile having a dash and a generator having a movable brush, comprising a rod having an end shaped to have a bearing in an opening formed in the end of the generator casing, a crank arm carried by said rod and overlying said casing and a link (pivotally connected to said crank arm an having connection with the movable brush of the generator.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 in combination with an operating rod accessible from the dash and a universal joint connection between the operating rod and the first named rod.

.3. A device for use upon an automobile having a dash and a generator having a movable brush, comprising a rod having an end shaped to have a bearing in an opening formed in the end of the generator casing, a crank arm carried by said rod and overlying said casing, a link pivotally connected to said crank arm and having connection with a movable third brush of the generator, a bracket shaped to constitute a hearing for the outer end of the rod and adapted to engage one of the bolts of the intake manifold of the engine of the automobile, a universal joint upon the rod rearwardly of said bracket and an operating rod leading from the universal joint to the dash of the automobile.

4. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said rod is adjustable as to length.

5. A structure as recited in claim 3 wherein both of said rods are adjustable as to length.

6. A device for use upon an automobile having a dash and a generator having a movable brush, comprising a rod, means for journaling an end of said rod upon the generator casing of an automobile, an offset crank arm carrled by said rod and extending part way along the side of the generator, a link connecting the free end of said crank arm to-a movable brush of the generator, a bearing bracket for the o posite end of said rod, said bearing bracket being carried by part of the engine structure of the automobile, an operating rod lying at an angle with respect to the first named rod and projecting through the dash of the automobile and a universal joint connection between said rods.

7. A device for use upon an automobile having a dash and a generator having a movable brush, comprising a rod, disposed longitudinally of the generator, means for mounting said rod td turn about its axis, a

a crank arm at the front end of the rod which projects over the casing of the generator, a link pivotally connected to said crank arm, said link passing into the casing of the generator and being connected to the movable brush of said generator and means for imparting turning movement to said rod from the dash of theautomobile.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY L. ARNEST. 

